Cigarette lighter with alarm

ABSTRACT

A cigarette lighter includes a body, a valve, a nozzle, an ignition device, a lever, a latch and an alarm. The body stores fuel. The valve is in communication with the body and movable between a closed position for keeping the fuel in the body and an open position for transferring the fuel from the body. The nozzle is in communication with the valve for spraying the fuel. The ignition device is mounted on the body for igniting the fuel sprayed from the nozzle. The lever is connected between the valve and the ignition device so that the valve is in the closed position when the ignition device is idle and that the valve is in the open position when the ignition device is actuated. The latch is movably mounted on the body between a locking position for preventing actuation of the ignition device and a releasing position for allowing actuation of the ignition device. The alarm is for contact with the latch for providing an alert in the releasing position of the latch.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a cigarette lighter and, more particularly, to a cigarette lighter equipped with an alarm.

[0003] 2. Related Prior Art

[0004] There have been various conventional cigarette lighters. Some of the conventional cigarette lighters are equipped with security devices. However, there has never been any cigarette lighter equipped with an alarm for providing an alert when the cigarette lighter is in a position for venting and igniting fuel.

[0005] The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problem encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0006] It is an objective of the present invention to provide a cigarette lighter equipped with an alarm for providing an alert when the cigarette lighter is in a position for venting and igniting fuel.

[0007] According to the present invention, a cigarette lighter includes a body, a valve, a nozzle, an ignition device, a lever, a latch and an alarm. The body stores fuel. The valve is in communication with the body and movable between a closed position for keeping the fuel in the body and an open position for transferring the fuel from the body. The nozzle is in communication with the valve for spraying the fuel. The ignition device is mounted on the body for igniting the fuel sprayed from the nozzle. The lever is connected between the valve and the ignition device so that the valve is in the closed position when the ignition device is idle and that the valve is in the open position when the ignition device is actuated. The latch is movably mounted on the body between a locking position for preventing actuation of the ignition device and a releasing position for allowing actuation of the ignition device. The alarm is for contact with the latch for providing an alert in the releasing position of the latch.

[0008] Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cigarette lighter equipped with an alarm according to the present invention.

[0010]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the cigarette lighter shown in FIG. 1.

[0011]FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the operation of the cigarette lighter shown in FIG. 1.

[0012]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line 4-4 in FIG. 1.

[0013]FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4 but showing a cover in an open position.

[0014]FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5 but showing the cigarette lighter producing fire.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0015] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a cigarette lighter includes a hollow body 10 and a hollow head 11 mounted on the body 10. The body 10 consists of a reservoir 12 for storing fuel and a container 40. The cigarette lighter further includes a valve 13 communicated with the reservoir 12, a nozzle 16 communicated with the valve 13 and positioned in the head 11, an ignition device 15 received in the container 40 for igniting the fuel venting from the nozzle 16, a lever 14 connected between the valve 13 and the ignition device 15, a security device 20 and an alarm 30.

[0016] The ignition device 15 includes a piston (not numbered), a cylinder (not numbered) and a wire (not numbered). A circuit (not shown) is received in the cylinder. The piston includes an upper end located outside the cylinder and a lower end inserted in the cylinder. The wire includes a lower end connected with the circuit and an upper end extending to the vicinity of the nozzle 16. When the piston is pushed, a voltage is produced by means of the circuit. Thus, an electric arc appears between the free end of the wire and the nozzle 16.

[0017] The security device 20 includes a cover 21 pivotally mounted on the head 11 between a closing position and an opening position, a latch 22 pivotally mounted on the head 11 between a locking position and a releasing position and a button 23 mounted on the piston of the security device 15 for engagement with the latch 22.

[0018] The head 11 includes two sidewalls (not numbered), two apertures 17 each defined in one of the sidewalls thereof and two ears 18 each projecting from one of the sidewalls thereof and defining an aperture (not numbered). The apertures 17 and the ears 18 are devised for connection with the cover 21 and the latch 22.

[0019] The cover 21 includes a first portion 211 and a second portion 212 extending from the first portion 211 at an angle. In the closing position, the first portion 211 shuts the nozzle 16. In the opening position, the first portion 211 leaves the nozzle 16. An engagement edge is formed at the first portion 211. Two ears 214 are formed on the second portion 212 of the cover 21. Each of the ears 214 defines an aperture 215. A pin 217 is inserted through the apertures 17 and 215 so as to pivotally mount the cover 21 on the head 11. A torque spring 216 is mounted on the pin 217 for biasing the cover 21 from the closing position to the opening position.

[0020] The latch 22 includes a first engagement edge 223 extending from a first end thereof at an angle and a second engagement edge 224 extending from a second end thereof at an angle. When the cover 21 is in the closing position and the latch 22 is in the locking position, the engagement edge 213 of the cover 21 is in engagement with the first engagement edge 223 of the latch 22. An aperture 225 is defined in the latch 22. A pin 227 is inserted through the apertures 18 and 225 so as to pivotally mount the latch 22 on the head 11.

[0021] The button 23 includes a first press portion 231 in contact with the second engagement edge 224 of the latch 22, a connection portion 232 formed below the finger engagement portion 231 for connection with the piston of the ignition device 15, a second press portion 233 formed on the finger engagement portion 231 and two hooks 234 extending from the second press portion 233 for engagement with the two sidewalls of the head 11.

[0022] The alarm 30 includes a switch 31 received in the head 11 and a circuit board 35 received in the container 40. The circuit board 35 includes a chip 32, a speaker 33 and a battery 34. The switch 31 is connected with the chip 32. The chip 32 is connected with the speaker 33. The chip 32 and the speaker 33 are powered by means of the battery 34. When the circuit board 35 is received in the container 40, the speaker 33 is aligned with an aperture (not numbered) that is defined in the container 40 and is covered by means of a screen 19.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 3, when the switch 31 is pushed, the process of providing an alert is initiated. The process delays for about 1 second for example. After 1 second has elapsed, an alert is provided. The alert can be music or any other appropriate sound.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 4, the nozzle 16 is closed by means of the cover 21. The cover 21 is retained in the closing position by means of the latch 22. The first press portion 231 is engaged with the second engagement edge 224 of the latch 22. Thus, a user cannot push the first press portion 231 to actuate the ignition device 15. The switch 31 is not in contact with the wall of the button 23.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 5, the user can push the second press portion 233 of the button 23 so as to pivot the latch 22 to the releasing position. The first engagement edge 223 of the latch 22 releases the engagement edge 213 of the cover 21 so as to allow the spring 216 to pivot the cover 21 to the opening position. Thus, the nozzle 16 is opened. Simultaneously, the latch 22 pushes the switch 31 so as to start the process described above referring to FIG. 3. The first press portion 231 is disengaged from the second engagement edge 224 of the latch 22.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 6, the user can push the first press portion 231 of the button 23 so as to push the piston into the cylinder of the ignition device 15 and to manipulate the valve 13 through the lever 14. Thus, the fuel can vent from the reservoir 12 to the nozzle 16, and a spark can be produced in the vicinity of the nozzle 16 in order to ignite the fuel.

[0027] The present invention has been described through detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive many variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined in the attached claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A cigarette lighter including: a body for storing fuel; a valve in communication with the body and movable between a closed position for keeping the fuel in the body and an open position for transferring the fuel from the body; a nozzle in communication with the valve for spraying the fuel; an ignition device mounted on the body for igniting the fuel sprayed from the nozzle; a lever connected between the valve and the ignition device so that the valve is in the closed position when the ignition device is idle and that the valve is in the open position when the ignition device is actuated; a latch movably mounted on the body between a locking position for preventing actuation of the ignition device and a releasing position for allowing actuation of the ignition device; and an alarm for contact with the latch for providing an alert in the releasing position of the latch.
 2. The cigarette lighter according to claim 1 wherein the alarm includes a switch mounted on the body for contact with the latch, a circuit board mounted on the body and connected with the circuit board and a speaker installed on the circuit board for providing the alert.
 3. The cigarette lighter according to claim 2 wherein the alarm includes a chip installed on the circuit board.
 4. The cigarette lighter according to claim 1 including a spring for biasing the latch to the locking position.
 5. The cigarette lighter according to claim 1 wherein the latch is pivotally mounted on the body.
 6. The cigarette lighter according to claim 5 including a torque spring for biasing the latch to the locking position.
 7. A cigarette lighter including: a body for storing fuel; a valve in communication with the body and movable between a closed position for keeping the fuel in the body and an open position for transferring the fuel from the body; a nozzle in communication with the valve for spraying the fuel; an ignition device mounted on the body for igniting the fuel sprayed from the nozzle; a cover movably mounted on the body for covering the nozzle between a closing position for closing the nozzle and an opening position for opening the nozzle; a lever connected between the valve and the ignition device so that the valve is in the closed position when the ignition device is idle and that the valve is in the open position when the ignition device is actuated; a latch movably mounted on the body between a locking position for locking the cover in the closing position and preventing actuation of the ignition device and a releasing position for releasing the cover and allowing actuation of the ignition device; and an alarm for contact with the latch for providing an alert in the releasing position of the latch.
 8. The cigarette lighter according to claim 7 wherein the alarm includes a switch (31) mounted on the body for contact with the latch, a circuit board mounted on the body and connected with the circuit board and a speaker installed on the circuit board for providing the alert.
 9. The cigarette lighter according to claim 8 wherein the alarm includes a chip installed on the circuit board.
 10. The cigarette lighter according to claim 7 including a spring for biasing the latch to the locking position.
 11. The cigarette lighter according to claim 7 wherein the latch is pivotally mounted on the body.
 12. The cigarette lighter according to claim 11 including a torque spring for biasing the latch to the locking position.
 13. The cigarette lighter according to claim 7 including a spring for biasing the cover to the opening position.
 14. The cigarette lighter according to claim 7 wherein the cover is pivotally mounted on the body.
 15. The cigarette lighter according to claim 14 including a torque spring for biasing the cover to the opening position. 